A cobpobation oe new



S. C. McKEOWN.

ELECTRIC CiRCUlT CONTROLLING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAYH, 1917.

Patented Oct. 18, 1921.

2 SHEET$SHEET 21 I I) I gwumfioz I arfoinu ondary circuit, and a switch isusually pro- UNITED STATESPATENT ()FFICE.

SAMUEL CHRISTOPHER MOKEOWN, 0F NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A

DORE ELECTRICAL COMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A C0 JERSEY.

RPORATION OF NEW ELEGTRIC -CIRCUIT GONTROLLING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 18, 1921.

Application filed May 11, 1917. Serial No. 167,901.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL Cnms'roPHER MCKEOWN, a citizenof the United States,

residing'at Newark, in the county of Essex 6 and State of New Jersey, have invented cer- I tain new and useful Improvements in Electri'c-Gircuit-Controlling Devices, of which the following is a specification, reference bein had to the accompanying drawing.

devices whereby a circuit is made and broken automatically.

, An object of my invention is to provide may be separated from each other when the device reaches a pre-determined speed, thereby eliminatin wear, while at the same time the circuit is ept closed in the manner hereinafter described. Y

My invention is applicable for use in ignition systems for internal combustion engines where a timer supplied from a battery is prevent the waste of the attery current should the user forget to open the battery switch while the engine is at rest. While .for' the sake ofillustration I' show my inve'ntion'used with an i ition system, it will be understood that I 0 not limit myself to this, use, as "the inventionmayl.be -used in combination with any electric circuit/or device where it is desirable to perform the purpose" which the said invention accomplises. i

In ignition systems, it is. customary to employ a timer mechanism comprising a pair of make and break"contactstogethei with suitable actuatin means therefor, such as a rotating cam. n multi-cylinder engines a distributer-isalso -employed, operating in synchronism with the. timer mechanism. The timercontacts are placedin the primary. circuit, the distributer inthe sec- 65 the t at theioperatorforgets to open y invention relates to electric controlling of th used, and in such a system m invention will the switch, and in consequence battery current continues to flow through the timer and primary clrcuit, and waste of battery current occurs.

Ma ny devices of the prior art show electric means for automatically openin the circult while the engine is at rest. uch devices naturally require the expenditure of electrical energy. for their operation. Many cm are comparatively sensitive in operation and delicate in construction, and all of them have a time element or operatlng period during which they remain closed even after the engine'is at rest. My invention eliminates theforegoing obec t1ons'1n that it requires no electric current for its operation, is comparativel rugged in construction, and opens the circult immediately as soon as the engine stops.

" There are other advantages hereinafter distributer equipped with my improved circuit controlling device. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the controlling device proper. F1g. 3 1s a detailed view of part of the circurt controlling mechanism, and Fig. 4:, a circuit-diagram of the com lete apparatus. Like figures of reference enote the same parts'w-herever they are shown.

The numeral 1 indicates the driving shaft of the electric device, which may be operatedin any suitable manner. In'an ignition device such as shown this shaft .1 is

SSIGNOR T0 srm'rdriven by the engine, and is rotated in fixed relation to the engine crank sha:ft; v 2, denotes a fixed support which may be a part of the engine framework on which is mounted the plate 3, carrying the timer mechanism of any suitable type such as the movable spring member 4 having a contact'engaging the fixed contact. 5; 'These make and break contactsare operated. lay-the usual came. A. condenser? is connected across theycontacts.

Ais'ithe foirgoing mechanism same in detail. Driven by the shaft 1' is the rotatingiinger'v ,8, adapted to be connected at 9 to the secondary, 1O of--theinduction coil and to "distribute the; high tension current 1 r or makeand teak contacts 4 and5 are conany well known type, I. do not describe the nected to the primary 15 of the induction coil, and to the battery 16 in series with contacts 17 and 18 hereafter referred to as a circuit controlling means of the controlling mechanism hereinafter described, the circuit arrangement being shown at Fig. 4. Secured to the shaft 1 is a shell 19, which incloses the segmentally divided ring 20, which is normall closed around the cone 21 by means of t ree radially acting springs, two of which are shown at 22 and 23, these being positioned in apertures in the ring, two of which are shown at 24 and 25. Interposed between the inner surfaces of the ring and the cam is a suitable frictional material, such as felt or cork indicated at 26, to give the required cree ing action as hereinafter described. ecured to the cone 21 and movable therewith is a flange 27 constituting a lever adapted to close the contacts 17 and 18, when the cone. is rotated clockwise looking down from the top. The member 27 has an outwardly projecting nose 28, adapted to en age the movable contact 18 as shown. A back stop 29 is provided to limit backward rotation of the member 27. A spring 30 is positioned underneath 27 having'an upward tension, so that when the ring 20 moves out of frictional engagement with the cone 21, then the said cone may rise slightly, keeping contacts 17 and 18 closed, as hereinafter described. The plate 31 on which the controlling mechanism is mounted is stationary at all times, being part of th framework of the engine or other device, the same as the support 2. As the operation of the distributer is well understood, I do not describe the same, but will confine myself to a description of the circuit controlling device comprisin the circuit controlling means or contacts '1 and 18 and the actuatin mechanism therefor. Shaft 1 being rotate shell 19 rotates with it and also ring 20, the inner surfaces of which frictionall engage cone 21, which tends to rotate, t ereby causing nose 28 to press upon 18"which makes contact with 17, thereby closing the circuit through battery 16, timer contacts 4 and 5 -and the primary 15 of the coil. The timer circuit being closed the timer functions in the ordinary XS the rotative speed of 1 increases, the divided ring 20 opens, due to'centrifu al action, the pressure on cone 21 being t ereby relieved the cone rises by reason of the spring 30, and this brings the nose 28- into engagement with the hooked portion of the back stop. 29 shaped as shown, which keeps contacts 17 and 18 closed in, spite of the fact that cone 21 has-beenrelived from frietional engagement with the. rotating e19 ment. As the speed decreases friction is re;

established before the parts 28 and.29,-u n'-* hook, so thatnthe points 17 and 18 arehelijd,

means therefor inclu While I have here illustrated and described simple and efficient means for carrying out the purpose of my invention, it will be understood that the same is not limited to the details of construction as herein set forth, as it is obvious that the same may be varied without however departing from the scope of the appended claims:

1. The combination with an electric circuit of a pair of make and break contacts for periodically interrupting said circuit, actuating means for said contacts, normally open circuit controlling means in said circuit independent of said contacts and frictional means controlling thecircuit and controlling means to close said circuit upon operation of the actuating means.

2. The combination with an electric circuit of a pair of make-and-break contacts for periodically interrupting said circuit, actuating means therefor, circuit controlling means independent of said contacts, mechanism including frictionally engaged members closing said controlling means while said actuating means is in operation, and means for opening said controlling means when said actuating means comes to rest.

- 3. Th combination with an electric circuit of a periodic contact device, rotative actuating means therefor including a shaft and cam, circuit controlling means independent of said contact device, adjacent said shaft, and mechanism actuated b said cam carryin "shaft and including rictionally engage members for operating said circult controlling means.

4. The combination with an electric circuit of a periodic contact device, rotative actuating means therefor including a shaft and cam, circuit controlling means independent. of said contact device, a member mounted on said cam carrying'shaft, a second member frictionaliy enga g said first member, and means controlle by said sec .ond member for operating said controlling member, means for opening an closing said circuit, actuated by said-second member, and

means-i'whe'reby said members are separated by,'centrifugalforce when said shaft reaches a predetermined' speed.

.j-The combinationfwith an, electric circu tzof a timed contact device ..rotative aca friction member mounted to turn about said shaft, a second member upon said shaft movable therewith and ada ted to frictionally engage said first mem er and circuit controlling means operated by t e movement of said first member.

7. The combination with an electric circuit of a timed contact device, rotative actuating means thereforincluding a shaft, a

friction member mounted to turn about said shaft, a second member upon said shaft movable therewith and adapted to frictionally engage said first member, circuit controlling means adapted to be operated by the movement of said first member, and means for separating .said members when said shaft reaches a predeterminedspeed.

8. The combination with anelectric cir-f cuit of a contact device, rotative actuating means therefor including averticril shaft, a friction member mounted to turn about said first member, means for separating .said members at a predetermined rotativespeed,

and means fon holding said circuit controlling means closed after the sep arationof said members during the ensuing rotation of said shaft above the predetermined speed,

substantially as described.

9. In an electric vc1rcu1t, a pair of con-- trolling contacts, actuating means for opening and closing said controlling contacts at predetermined speeds'comprising frictionally-engaging members for closing said contacts and means for holding said contacts closed and releasing said frictionally engaged members when said actuating means reaches a predetermined speed.

, 10. In an electric circuit, a pair of controlling contacts therefor, actuating means for opening and closing said contacts at predetermined speeds of said shaft, comprising a vertical shaft, a friction member driven with said shaft, 8. second friction member driven by said member and means ing said contacts. 3

11. In an electric circuit, a pair of convoperated by said second member for actuattrolling contacts therefor, actuating means said contacts at for opening and closin predetermined speeds o said shaft, comprising a vertical shaft, an annular divided rin carried. by said shaft, 9. member within sai rin andadapted to be frictionally enaged t ereby and means operated by said ast member for actuating said contacts.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL cnmsrornrn McKEOWN. Witnesses! I 1 I p W. J. MoIN'rm,

G. V. Sass. 

